Mike Gundy reacts to preseason Big 12 poll

Following a 2-2 start to the 2023 season, Oklahoma State rattled off an impressive 7-1 stretch to put themselves in the Big 12 Championship game. Where they fell to Texas in a lopsided loss but defeated Texas A&M in their bowl game to secure their 10th win of the season.

The Longhorns have now departed from the conference and the Cowboys return a whopping 21 starters from last season. But despite that, Oklahoma State ranks third in the preseason Big 12 polls behind Kansas State and conference newcomer Utah.

Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy was asked about his team’s standing in the polls along with the new additions joining the conference at Big 12 Media Days.

“I really haven’t paid much attention to preseason polls. They’ve always said the good news is we get to play all the games,” Gundy said. “I’m really excited about our conference, I’ve said that for the last few years as we’ve continued to add teams.”

Utah joins the conference alongside Arizona, Arizona State, and Colorado, with the Big 12 also adding BYU, Cincinnati, UCF, and Houston last offseason. Expansion that Gundy is a fan of along with the work of Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark.

“From day one I’ve always said that I think we have the best commissioner in all of the conferences,” Gundy said. “We have a guy that’s innovative, smart, not afraid to take a chance. He’s bullish on moving forward and doing whatever it takes to put the Big 12 where it needs to be for us to crown national champions in football. I have confidence in him.”

Gundy was much more concerned on the future of the conference versus where his team stands in the preseason polls. Not naive to the conference potentially growing even more in the future and the competition only continuing to rise in the Big 12.

“With that being said, I believe that this conference is going to play better over the next four to five years than it has in the last 12 to 15, for the most part, other than the last year we were intact. So I’m excited about the group. Could there be more conference realignment in the future?” Gundy asked. “Very well could happen based on all the changes we’ve had in the last 18 to 20 months that none of us could have predicted.

“So I think everything’s a moving target, but I really like where we’re at, and I’m excited about this conference.”